Last Modified: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 7:51 p.m.

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The Spartanburg NAACP had a news conference Thursday to highlight ongoing disagreements that have left Spartanburg Housing Authority tenants at odds. The issues are between a black family and a white family.

When interviewed at their homes Thursday, each neighbor alleged harassment, threats, racial slurs and vandalism at the hand of the other — though neither has any plans to move out.

William and Helen Owens moved into their Fremont Avenue home seven years ago. Christina Whiteside and her two children, ages 11 and 14, moved into a home next door in 2010.

NAACP branch communications director W.T. Lewis said Whiteside has gone to the Spartanburg City Council, the Spartanburg Housing Authority and to the Spartanburg Police Department to seek assistance in mitigating problems with her neighbors.

He said, however, problems still exist and nothing is being done to improve Whiteside's living situation.

"We are trying to prevent a killing on the Northside of Spartanburg," Lewis said. "What happened to fair and equal housing is the question."

Lewis also said Whiteside should not be forced to or told to leave because of her neighbors' actions.

The Owenses said similarly that they should not have to move away because of the actions from next door.

"I'm afraid it's going to get worse," Helen Owens said. "This is really a bad situation, but I don't know how it's going to play out."

Spartanburg resident Lessie Irby attended the NAACP news conference to support Whiteside and said she also had problems with her neighbors but eventually decided to move.

"If a bird was dead in the backyard, the police were there and saying I killed the bird," Irby said. "I thought I was going crazy."

She applauded Whiteside's efforts in attempting to stay in her residence and work out the disagreements.

Shortly after Whiteside moved in, problems arose between the two and police began receiving regular calls to respond to complaints.

The city installed a privacy fence between the homes and created a separate driveway for Whiteside's residence. The neighbors previously shared a driveway.

"A resolution has been hard to find at this point," said Spartanburg Police Chief Alonzo Thompson. "We've spent a substantial amount of time trying to resolve this issue, and we do not want this situation to end tragically."

He said mediation efforts have been unsuccessful.

Col. Jennifer Kindall of the Spartanburg Police Department said the department is well aware of the situation and has been involved in the neighborhood feud since its inception several years ago.

She and Thompson said the city is still working to figure out a solution that values the safety of both neighbors and allows both to live peacefully.

Thompson added that the city wants to find a solution to preserve residents' safety but also to conserve police resources.

According to Spartanburg Police Department incident reports, 911 calls are made regularly from the two neighbors. More than 70 calls for service were placed in February 2013.

"We don't want to see anybody physically harmed. Then a distant second would be resources. Oftentimes these calls don't warrant charging someone," Thompson said.

Both Whiteside and Helen Owens said they feel like problems are escalating and have a fear for their safety and the safety of their families.

"I just want to be left alone. I want to live in peace and harmony," Whiteside said.

Next door, Helen Owens shared similar feelings: "We just want some peace."

<p>Mounting tensions between two feuding neighbors in Spartanburg's Northside has left a civil rights group and others struggling to find a solution.</p><p>The Spartanburg NAACP had a news conference Thursday to highlight ongoing disagreements that have left Spartanburg Housing Authority tenants at odds. The issues are between a black family and a white family.</p><p>When interviewed at their homes Thursday, each neighbor alleged harassment, threats, racial slurs and vandalism at the hand of the other — though neither has any plans to move out.</p><p>William and Helen Owens moved into their Fremont Avenue home seven years ago. Christina Whiteside and her two children, ages 11 and 14, moved into a home next door in 2010.</p><p>NAACP branch communications director W.T. Lewis said Whiteside has gone to the Spartanburg City Council, the Spartanburg Housing Authority and to the Spartanburg Police Department to seek assistance in mitigating problems with her neighbors.</p><p>He said, however, problems still exist and nothing is being done to improve Whiteside's living situation.</p><p>"We are trying to prevent a killing on the Northside of Spartanburg," Lewis said. "What happened to fair and equal housing is the question."</p><p>Lewis also said Whiteside should not be forced to or told to leave because of her neighbors' actions.</p><p>The Owenses said similarly that they should not have to move away because of the actions from next door.</p><p>"I'm afraid it's going to get worse," Helen Owens said. "This is really a bad situation, but I don't know how it's going to play out."</p><p>Spartanburg resident Lessie Irby attended the NAACP news conference to support Whiteside and said she also had problems with her neighbors but eventually decided to move.</p><p>"If a bird was dead in the backyard, the police were there and saying I killed the bird," Irby said. "I thought I was going crazy."</p><p>She applauded Whiteside's efforts in attempting to stay in her residence and work out the disagreements.</p><p>Shortly after Whiteside moved in, problems arose between the two and police began receiving regular calls to respond to complaints.</p><p>The city installed a privacy fence between the homes and created a separate driveway for Whiteside's residence. The neighbors previously shared a driveway.</p><p>"A resolution has been hard to find at this point," said Spartanburg Police Chief Alonzo Thompson. "We've spent a substantial amount of time trying to resolve this issue, and we do not want this situation to end tragically."</p><p>He said mediation efforts have been unsuccessful.</p><p>Col. Jennifer Kindall of the Spartanburg Police Department said the department is well aware of the situation and has been involved in the neighborhood feud since its inception several years ago. </p><p>She and Thompson said the city is still working to figure out a solution that values the safety of both neighbors and allows both to live peacefully.</p><p>Thompson added that the city wants to find a solution to preserve residents' safety but also to conserve police resources.</p><p>According to Spartanburg Police Department incident reports, 911 calls are made regularly from the two neighbors. More than 70 calls for service were placed in February 2013.</p><p>"We don't want to see anybody physically harmed. Then a distant second would be resources. Oftentimes these calls don't warrant charging someone," Thompson said.</p><p>Both Whiteside and Helen Owens said they feel like problems are escalating and have a fear for their safety and the safety of their families.</p><p>"I just want to be left alone. I want to live in peace and harmony," Whiteside said.</p><p>Next door, Helen Owens shared similar feelings: "We just want some peace."</p>